Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-05-26
THE STATE.
READY FOR BATTLE
Michigan PrOhibitionists Band Them
selves as a Citizens Union.


hardly as large as some had expected, but
sufficiently large to make an effective
body. It included prominent temperance
men of all parties
Rev. Dr. f. b. Fairfield of Manistee, was
chairman of the meeting and Henry NJ.
Look of Rochester, and 4. II. Baskerville
OF Detroit secretaries. Col. Sylvester
Larned of Detroit, made the address of
welcome, Chairman Fairfield, replying,
Both addresses were ringingly good, and
thoroughly opposed to tax or license in
any of their forms.
Various committees were appointed.
| Fx-Gov. Begoe spoke briefly, saying that
! If there was one party more thoroughly
committed TO prohibition than another
that was the party to which he should be-
! long.
The committee on resolutions reported
the following. which were adopted:
Whereas, The traffic in intoxicating
liquors is a source of gross corruption of
the ballot and of the whole machinery of
our popular elections, as has been fore.
IDLY illustrated III the recent elections in
this state; and
Whereas, The liquor power is conspir-
ing TO obtain political control throughout
our state and nation; and
Whereas, Such control would be de-
structive to our most cherished interests
OF re lyon, government, society and the
home: and
" hereas, J he actual will of the electors,
as we firmly believe, was defeated thereby
in our recent election to large degree,
therefore
Re Owed That we do hereby unite our
selves into an organization to be known as
The Citizens Union, the first and para
mount object of which shall be the pro-
hibition of the traffic i'll Intoxicating
liquo S as abeverage.
Resolved, That all who are i'll favor of
the extinction OF said traffic and conform
ing our organic and statutory law to that
object are eligible to member, hip ami are
cordially invited to unite with us, without
regarding TO partisan utilization.
Resolved, That while we accept all at
temptS made in good faith to enact and
enio ce effective tenn erance legislation,
we hereby affirm our fidelity to the princf-
pie of constitutional prohibition of the
Ii Iuor traffic for the state and nation and
our conviction of the futility of the
theories of taxation and license to sup
pre-. the traffic.
Resolved, That we will use our utmost
in iuence by personal attendance to reform
the political caucus and convention, and
pledge ourselves to support as candidates
for the legislature those who are in favor
of legal prohibition.
Resolved That we here enter our earnest
protest against the fraudulent practices
indu ged in by the enemies of temperance
at the recent election.
Resolved That we heartily commend the
law of our state providing for in truction
i'll ur pub ic -choos concerning the nature
and effect, of al Ohio IL and narcotic
stimulants upon the human system, and
call for more general compliance with
its espresso provisions:
lie q we'd, ! hat we gratefully acknowl-
edge the efficient assistance of the w. &.
T. {. ct this state in the recent contest for
the amendment and bespeak their co OPP
GRAFTON in the future:
Re olved, That relying upon the justice
and hum nitv of our cause we present il
to the Peep of Michigan, trusting God
tor ultimate victory, remembering that
''righteou ne eXalteth nation"
Rev. DR.. Rexford, of the committee on
state organization, submit, d the follow
ing report:
WHEREAS, The liquor traffic with its al
lied interests con titute' the greatest evil
of our times in this country, creating pow
erty, and distress on every hand: produc-
ing by far the larger proportion of violence
and crime in our midst; debauching and
fnallc destroying vast numbers of indi-
viduals and corrupting the public life also,
in many of its most vital parts and rela-
tons and notably corruptIng the ballot
the agent o. the free popular will; and
~ hered", We assume that all persons
! without regard to party affiliations, who
are concerned in promoting and securing
the great institutions of our state, such as
tue nome, lne SCHOOL ana the Cnulcn, ana
al. who are DESTROYS of fos tering right and
just and wholesome conditions among the
people. cannot lie Indifferent to the war
I. re which the liquor traffic perpetually
wages against those cherishtd interests;
and
Whereas, This problem of civilization as
against barbarism, of virtue against vice,
OF happiness against distress, of intelli-
gence against ignorance and of prosperity
against rum, Is a problem in which all
ia-p Il af- hon haa
Therefore, We, the citizens of Michigan,
in convention assembled, do organize our
selves into an association for the promo.
ton of temperance in our state, and for
our direction and control do adopt the fol-
lowing con titution:
ArticleI 7. This association shall be known
as the Citilen Union of Michigan.
Art. III. The oh ect of this association
shall be the prohibition of the traffic in
intoxicating liquors as beverage and as
contributing to this result we demand and
secure pure ballot.
Art. Ill. I he officers of this association
sh al be pre- ,ident and at least one vice
president for each county; "a correspond
ing and recording secretary; treasurer
ard an executive committee of nine of
which the president and corresponding
secretary shall be memt ers, and that the
president of each district W. T.. L. u. be
an honorary vice-president and that the
stats convention of the w. c. L. o. be re-
tive committee.
Art. ~. %. The executive committe
shall conduct the business of the new as
ISOLATION in the intervals of the general
meetings and execute the various measures
adopted by the general body at its annual
or special ses sions.
(>). he executive committee shall
have power to add to their number such
other citizens as they find desirable or
n ices airy to the more effective prosecu-
ton of the associations work
| t3). They shall appoint special execute We
committees in the various counties of the
| state, of such number as the exigencies Of
the WORK may demand, and SO far as
| practicable one member from each election
/ district.
az. They shall determine the sa ary of
the seen etaries and emp oy such other
| agents as they may deem essential to the
work; raise funds and herewith the neces-
! sary expenses shall be- met; fill all va
cancies and publish such documents as are
necessary to accomplish the objects of the
| aSsoci ton.
| Art V. The county committees on their
| appointment shall proceed at once TO
organize the county into branch associa-
tions the people electing their own of GERS
and multiplying associations with the
| view to securing every Ier on in every
voting district as a member who is in
| sympathy with the oh ect of this union.
| Art. VI. 1t shall be the duty of the cor
| responding secretary to travel at large
| throughout the stat to aid the organiza-
tion OF societies, and by lectures and adj
! dresses and by all other means in his row
er foster the objects of the association.
He shall make monthly report to the ex-
| ecutive committee of all such organiza-
tions perfected, together with the names
and addresses of members moneys collect
ed expenses incurred and such other items
/ al.